Story
Reviews
Awards
Cast/Crew
Press
Synopsis:
An outwardly wealthy businessman and a professional wrestler who's fallen on hard times find their fates colliding in an alternate universe New York City where an ancient conspiracy could prove the path to redemption. Their lives controlled by lust, greed, and envy, sharp-dressed Thomas Caine and bruised grappler Parker are drawn into a mysterious ritual that may provide them with the means of making a clean break from their troubled pasts - should they survive their arduous ordeal. A crime noir thriller with strong fantasy undertones, The Crimson Mask marks the feature directorial debut of Elias Plagianos, whose unique vision garnered 40 film festival awards from around the world.
Production Notes:
Produced on an ultra low budget, “The Crimson Mask” is an example of how Independent Cinema can compete with Studio Films by using innovative digital technology in combination with established filmmaking techniques to create thought provoking material.
Although shot on digital high definition cameras, the production used 35mm prime film camera lenses, with excellent glass, to capture material that was then color graded and corrected by the director to attain a unique yet classic look.
An industrial block in Red Hook, Brooklyn was converted into a makeshift backlot during production to capture the cartoonish world of wrestler Jack Parker. Sets were built by family and friends in warehouses that doubled as holding areas and dressing rooms. The streets were full of Hardhat workers and dump trucks mingling with vintage cars, and costumed actors. The neighborhood embraced the filmmaking experience and the film could never have been made without the help of the neighborhood.
The production moved across the river to Manhattan to give desperate Banker, Thomas Caine an authentic setting. From Chinatown to Central Park, Thomas found himself in loft apartments full of trendy artwork, underground speakeasy lounges, and beautiful office space whose residents were kind enough to donate there locations for long shooting hours.
With the limited budget and time, the climactic Crimson Mask scenes were filmed at a little known Castle in Rye, NY that is used for wedding banquets, and golf brunches, while the sword fight was shot over 3 days at a Gothic Church in the heart of Times Square.
The entire production was completed over a hectic 3 week timeframe with days that often went over 12 hours and locations that usually changed daily. The process was physically and emotionally draining for the entire cast and crew but the results were worth every painful day.
Director's Notes:
Coming Soon.
Cast:
Robert Clohessy... Parker
Joshua Burrow ... Thomas Caine
Chrishell Stause ... Jules
Phillip Clark ... J.R. Chase
Lee R. Sellars ... Jeffries
Frank Page ... Eddie
Ed Kershen ... Fats
Matthew Conlon ... Mr. Bentley
Richard Mawe ... Jonathan Caine
Arthur Acuña ... Mr. Kuo
Debra Jans ... Sarah
Katya Campbell ... May
Caitlin Mehner ... Artemis
Craig Blair ... Jon
Galway McCullough ... Tough Guy
David Winning ... James
CREW:
Written & Directed By
Elias Plagianos
Produced by
Robert Clohessy .... executive producer
Elias Plagianos .... producer
Jason Plagianos .... producer
Craig Blair .... co-producer
Caitlin Mehner .... co-producer
Jason Kaminsky .... associate producer
Danny Kuo .... associate producer
Irene Plagianos .... co-producer
Eric Sendrow .... associate producer
Michael Gonzalez Wallace .... co-producer
Matthew Woolf .... co-producer
Original Music by
Emir Isilay
Pinar Toprak
Cinematography by
Joe Gabriel (co-director of photography)
Matthew Woolf (co-director of photography)
Film Editing by
Casting by
Lena Kaminsky
Carol Nadell
Costume Design by
Sarah Shears
Makeup Department
Sky Vega .... special makeup effects artist
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Philip McGonigle .... second assistant director (as Phil McGonigle)
Tracy Utley .... first assistant director
Art Department
Shana McKay Burns .... art department
James Stewart.... set design
OFFICIAL SELECTION:
Cannes Independent Film Festival
Toronto Independent Film Festival
Winner of 40 International AWARDS including:
BEST PICTURE BEST DIRECTOR BEST ACTOR
American International Film Festival -
BEST PICTURE
BEST DIRECTOR
BEST LEAD ACTOR
Amsterdam Film Festival -
BEST SCI-FI FILM
New Hope Film Festival
BEST ACTION FILM
Hoboken International Film Festival
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
BEST EDITOR
Long Island International Film Festival
BEST ACTOR
Orlando Film Festival
Twin Rivers Film Festival
BEST FEATURE FILM
Appalachian Film Festival
Sene Film Festival
Rainier Film Festival
BEST FEATURE
by a 1st Time DIRECTOR
Staten Island Film Festival
BEST EDITING
Los Angeles Cinema Fetival
Kent Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD
Los Angeles Reel Film Festival
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Honolulu FIlm Festival
SILVER LEI AWARD
Indiefest USA - Disneyworld
Mountain Film Festival
BEST THRILLER
THE ILLINOIS TIMES - Chuck Koplinski
“
" Elias Plagianos’ The Crimson Mask is a stylish exercise in
film noir about Parker, a washed up wrestler who does his best to
shake his seedy past and Caine, a businessman whose life begins to
unravel. It’s no wonder the film has won awards at 10 major film
festivals as Plagianos effectively combines various cinematic
conventions and styles to create a distinct, colorful world that is at
once familiar, yet unique. In the vein of Sin City, this is truly
unique feature that plays like a studio film despite its modest
budget.” "
A&E Vibe Magazine - Deborah Ground Buckner
““
" The Crimson Mask is an ambitious first feature film by
writer-director Elias Plagianos. Considering the film was shot in 21
days on a budget of less than $200,000, it could be considered a great film. Plagianos has used his resources to the best of a film-maker's
ability, and put together a fascinating cast while doing it.” "
THE PITCH MOVIES - Alan Scherstuhl
" The Crimson Mask, a kitchen-sink noir from first-timer Elias
Plagianos. Stylish, inventive and often surprising, this New York
story dabbles in genre conventions of its own: the mob-pressured
fighter and the dark side of Chinatown. Plagianos loves those
clichés, though, and he picks the best of them to work for all
they're worth. A couple of reels in, when its attention turns to the
travails of a banker, Crimson Mask opens into something too dark
and fun to spoil. I can tell you to expect good fights, memorable
ado over peanuts and self-help books, and some pure movie plot
twists that get weirder and better as they come.” "
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